31Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the assessment of head and neck tumors.
OBJECTIVE
31Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) provides biochemical information in a noninvasive way. The aim of this work was: (a) to characterize the 31P spectrum of advanced head and neck tumors, and (b) to evaluate the spectral changes after treatment and to correlate them with the pathologic response.


METHODS
A total of 20 patients diagnosed with advanced head and neck tumors and 7 healthy controls participated in the study. The tumor mass and its contralateral side were studied by means of 31P-MRS before and after treatment. Neck muscles of a control group were also studied.


RESULTS
Tumors presented ratios of phosphomonoesters (PME), phosphodiesters (PDE), and inorganic phosphate (Pi) with respect to the adenosine triphosphate (ATP), significantly higher and a PCr (phosphocreatine)/ATP ratio lower than the neck muscle of volunteers or the contralateral side. The PDE/ATP and PME/ATP ratio values obtained before therapy were similar, independent of the later response to treatment. However, when there was a complete response, the ratios measured after treatment were decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show the existence of significant differences between the 31phosphorus spectrum of tumors and neck muscle, but also between the tumors and their contralateral sides. Moreover, 31P-MRS is able to detect metabolic changes after a complete response. These results suggest that 31P-MRS would be useful in the evaluation of the clinical response of head and neck tumors.
Maldonado
X
X
Servei d'Oncologia Radioteràpica, Hospital General i Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
Alonso
J
J
Giralt
J
J
Cucurella
M G
MG
del Campo
J M
JM
Rovira
A
A
Felip
E
E
Capellades
J
J
Grivé
E
E
Rubio
D
D
Gili
J
J
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D004952:Esters / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus
D004952:Esters; D010725:Phosphocreatine; D010758:Phosphorus; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate